This will give you enough time to complete requirements, such as a minimum number of public service hours. Find an organization method that works for you, and mark down the key dates to get started.
When it comes to individual schools, be sure to check with each one since every school is different. Starting early and getting your calendar in order can help take some of the stress out of the hunt for your perfect college and help you focus on finding the best fit for you. Go Back Go Back. Incorrect Email Address. Apply Pick the loan you would like to apply for or Find Your Application.
Read on to learn more about the important deadlines that you should know for the school year. Check with your institution. Testing Deadlines Timeline: Spring or summer of junior year or fall of senior year.
This means that every college you apply to probably will likely have different dates and deadlines that you need to track. There are other factors that add some uniformity to the college admissions timeline.
Many colleges use the Common App lication ; for all Common App schools, the application opens on the day that the Common App opens, August 1st. This Common App opening date has remained the same for some years. Another frequently used application platform is ApplyTexas , which as you might guess! The ApplyTexas application opens a little bit sooner, around July 1st, and you can submit your application as early as AM Central Time that day! This application is unique because, though it is released in August, applicants are only allowed to submit their applications from November 1st to November 30th.
Of course, there are other application platforms, like the Coalition Application and the Universal College Application. However, you can expect both the Coalition Application and the Universal College Application to open around the same time as the previous platforms, if not a bit sooner!
All in all, you should be able to start filling out some applications as early as July, and will definitely be able to begin most of your applications by August. Aim to start your college essays during the summer before your senior year. Give the college a decision no later than the May 1 national response date. Who should apply early? Applying to an ED or EA plan is most appropriate for a student who: Has researched colleges extensively.
Is absolutely sure that the college is the first choice. Has found a college that is a strong match academically, socially and geographically. Has an academic record that has been consistently solid over time. Applying to an ED or EA plan is not appropriate for a student who: Has not thoroughly researched colleges. Is applying early just to avoid stress and paperwork. Is not fully committed to attending the college. Is applying early only because friends are.
Needs a strong senior fall semester to bring grades up. The benefits of applying early For a student who has a definite first-choice college, applying early has many benefits besides possibly increasing the chance of getting in. Applying early lets the student: Reduce stress by cutting the time spent waiting for a decision. Save the time and expense of submitting multiple applications. Gain more time, once accepted, to look for housing and otherwise prepare for college.
But what do you do if you don't fall into this narrow category? Our eBook on how to prepare for and apply to college as a nontraditional student will walk you through everything you need to know , from the coursework you should have under your belt to how to get letters of recommendation when you're not a high school senior. Taking the official test is a valuable experience that you can learn from. To give yourself opportunities to retake the SAT or ACT, you want to take it for the first time long before your college deadline.
If you're applying regular decision, you might take the SAT or ACT for the first time in the fall of junior year and again in the spring. Since it takes about three weeks for scores to be released, you might have a few more opportunities to take the exams in the beginning of 12th grade, like in August, September, November or maybe December, depending on the admissions plan you choose.
It'd be pretty nerve-wracking to put so much pressure on these last minute test dates. Ideally, you'd have your scores all set by the end of junior year. You could even push the schedule mentioned above up, so that you take your first test in the spring of sophomore year. By knowing your deadlines, you can plan out your testing dates and study schedule to ensure you've achieved your SAT or ACT target scores in time to apply.
The same goes for your recommendation letters. A second component that requires advance planning is your letters of recommendation. You should ask your teachers at least a month before your application deadline. It can also be a good idea to ask 11th grade teachers at the end of your junior year , when they remember you best. Besides making the request, you also should be filling out a "brag sheet" or sharing ideas with your teachers on what would go into your ideal recommendation letter.
This means you've done some thinking about what you'd most like admissions officers to know about you and your goals for the future. If you're applying regular decision, you should ask your teachers in November of your senior year, if not earlier.
A lot of teachers set a quota—they can only write so many letters. If you know your English teacher will be bombarded with requests, for example, make sure to ask early! If you're applying EA or ED, then you should put out recommendation requests at the beginning of your senior year. Again, you could also ask at the end of junior year and just follow up with a reminder in the fall. Finally, you'll also be working on your personal essay for a few months before your application deadlines. I'm sure none of you have ever stayed up all night writing an essay due the next day But if there's one essay you shouldn't leave for a last minute all-nighter, it's your personal essay for college.
Even though it's a short essay—a maximum of words for the Common App —it's a big challenge. Actually, the shortness of it is part of what makes it so tough. How can you home in on a specific experience that reveals something unique and significant about your identity in so few words?
Because it's such a challenge and so important in your college application, you want to start thinking about your personal essay early. Some students go through several changes of topics before discovering the best one.
Even just reading the prompts and mulling them over are important parts of the writing process. Your ideas will benefit from incubation. You might be out running or taking a shower when an exciting essay topic pops into your head! Apart from the brainstorming stage, drafting and revising takes a long time too. With only words, you want to be careful that you're choosing the right ones and expressing yourself as clearly, powerfully, and vividly as you can.
You might also elicit feedback from friends, parents, and teachers and incorporate their suggestions into your essay. Or not—above all, it's your voice and your story to tell. The summer before senior year is a great time to work on your personal essay. At the very least, I'd recommend starting two to three months before your deadlines. No late night writing frenzies for your college essay—put the time and thought into crafting an essay that admissions officers will remember.
Other important aspects of your application are any other supplemental essays, sending your transcripts , and of course, the application itself. Take time to fill everything out accurately and write about your extracurricular activities in a compelling way. Finally, proofread and double check everything before pressing submit! At this point, you should have a clear sense of the various deadline options for U. Let's go over the most important points to remember when applying to college.
Preparing your college application takes a long time, especially your SAT or ACT tests, recommendation letters, and personal essay, so plan ahead. Above all, make sure to keep track of all your deadlines and plan out each component of your application.
Spacing out the process will help you break it down into manageable steps and balancing it with your course work and extracurricular activities senior year. All this organization will help you with any projects and applications that lie in your future! We're continually updating our site with in-depth guides to help you through the college process. Plus many more articles to help you apply to college and understand college admissions!
We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:.
She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being.
0コメント